BILLY GRAHAM

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BILLY GRAHAM

American Television And Audience Evangelist

BIRTH - DEATH	b. November 7, 1918 Charlotte, North Carolina
EDUCATION	Florida Bible Institute (Trinity College), 1940 B.A., Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, 1943
MINISTRIES	*Billy Graham Evangelistic Association* *Hour Of Decision* weekly radio program *Decision Magazine* *Decision Today* daily radio program *World Wide Pictures* film production *The Cove* training center *Schools Of Evangelism*
MAJOR WORKS	My Answer syndicated newspaper column, 1952 to present Peace With God, 1953 The Secret of Happiness, 1955 My Answer, 1960 World Aflame, 1965 The Challenge, 1969 The Jesus Generation, 1971 Angels: God's Secret Agents, 1975 How to Be Born Again, 1977 The Holy Spirit, 1978 Till Armageddon, 1981 Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, 1983 Peace With God, 1984 revised and expanded A Biblical Standard for Evangelists, 1984 Unto the Hills, 1986 Facing Death and the Life After, 1987 Answers to Life's Problems, 1988 Hope for the Troubled Heart, 1991 Storm Warning, 1992 Just As I Am, 1997

Billy Graham is possibly the foremost and best known protestant American evangelist in the world. He has been in the evangelical ministry since 1949 with his first major crusade in Los Angeles, California. Since that time he has preached live to more that 285 million people in 185 countries and territories. He has spoken to untold millions more throughout the world by means of radio and television.

Born November 7, 1918 in Charlotte, North Carolina, he was ordained as a Southern Baptist in 1939. He graduated from Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity College) in 1940 and received his B.A. from Wheaton College in 1943.

From 1943 to 1945 he was pastor of the First Baptist Church, Western Springs, Illinois. From 1945 to 1950 he was charter vice-president for Youth For Christ International, Chicago, Illinois and also from 1947 to 1952, president of Northwestern Schools, consisting of a liberal arts college, Bible college and theological seminary.

In 1950, Mr. Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and established the headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota where they have remained until recently. The same year he began the weekly radio program, Hour Of Decision which has been continuously broadcast since that time.

The Los Angeles Crusade of 1949 catapulted Billy Graham into national prominence and his team consisting of George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows have remained together continuously since that time. George Beverly Shea joined Billy Graham in 1947 and Cliff Barrows has hosted the Hour Of Decision since 1950.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is probably the most respected Christian organization in existence today, having earned the reputation of honesty and fairness in the presentation of the gospel and also noted as being a pioneer in the area of financial disclosure and responsibility in the methods of fund raising and the use of those donations.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association believes:

The Bible to be the infallible Word of God, that it is His holy and inspired Word, and that it is of supreme and final authority.
In one God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He led a sinless life, took on Himself all our sins, died and rose again, and is seated at the right hand of the Father as our mediator and advocate.
That all men everywhere are lost and face the judgment of God, and need to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ through His shed blood on the cross.
That Christ rose from the dead and is coming soon.
In holy Christian living, and that we must have concern for the hurts and social needs of our fellowmen.
We must dedicate ourselves anew to the service of our Lord and to His authority over our lives.
In using every modern means of communication available to us to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

DOCTRINAL ISSUES

Doctrinal issues have been relatively minor in relation to Billy Graham as he has consistently preached a straightforward exposition of the gospel of Jesus Christ as being the only way to salvation. This message has been the primary subject of virtually all of his evangelistic messages during the crusades. It has never been a contention that Billy Graham does not preach a correct and clear salvation message. But troubling issues are nonetheless part of his ministry and two of them will be mentioned here.

CHANGES IN THE SALVATION MESSAGE?
A TROUBLING QUESTION
During an interview with Robert Schuller, Billy Graham made statements in a conversation that would indicate that he does not necessarily believe in the singular means by which salvation is granted and the relationship that salvation has to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the gospel that He has preached. The conversation below occurred between Billy Graham and Robert Schuller, who is the pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California and founder of the Hour Of Power television program. The interview was broadcast on May 31, 1997 on the Hour of Power television program, titled "Say 'Yes' To Possibility Thinking," program #1426.

Dr. Schuller begins by speaking to Billy Graham:
Dr. Schuller: "Tell me, what is the future of Christianity?"
Dr. Graham: "Well, Christianity and being a true believer, you know, I think there's the body of Christ which comes from all the Christian groups around the world, or outside the Christian groups. I think that everybody that loves Christ or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the body of Christ. And I don't think that we're going to see a great sweeping revival that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time."
"What God is doing today is calling people out of the world for His name. Whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts they need something that they don't have and they turn to the only light they have and I think they're saved and they're going to be with us in heaven."
Dr. Schuller: "What I hear you saying is that it's possible for Jesus Christ to come into a human heart and soul and life even if they've been born in darkness and have never had exposure to the Bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you're saying?"
Dr. Graham: "Yes it is because I believe that. I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, have never heard of Jesus but they've believed in their hearts that there is a God and they tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived."
Dr. Schuller: "This is fantastic. I'm so thrilled to hear you say that. There's a wideness in God's mercy.
Dr. Graham: There is. There definitely is."

Dr. Graham makes several statements that simply cannot be reconciled with the message of salvation that he has preached his entire life. An inquiry directed toward the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association produced the following reply. The question of exactly why he made the statements that he did is not addressed, so the reader must determine for themselves if the reply answers the issues raised in the interview with Dr. Schuller.

Dear Gary:

Thank you for your email.

We appreciate your interest and concern about an interview with Mr. Graham that was conducted by Rev. Robert Schuller. Mr. Graham has faithfully and clearly preached the Gospel for over 50 years, and since the interview he has reaffirmed his belief in Christ as the only way of salvation: "In all our Crusades we place a prominent banner with Jesus' words, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.' We put that verse there because people live in a confused world, with so many competing religious voices calling men and women to follow them. But Christ is distinctive and exclusive about the way to God. There can be no true Christianity apart from Him. While some of the ethics and idealism of other religions may run parallel to Christian teachings, the fact remains, as stated by Jesus Christ, 'No Man cometh unto the Father but by me' (John 14:6, KJV).

"Over the years I have met people with many religious and philosophical views. Many of them have had deep commitment to their beliefs. But I have become even more convinced of the uniqueness and the truth of Christ and His Gospel. And I want to continue preaching it as long as possible."

We trust that you will pray that Mr. Graham will always correctly interpret God's Word and be sensitive to the Spirit's leading in every situation.

Sincerely,

Jamie Andrews
Administrative Services Supervisor
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

ECUMENICAL TO THE POINT OF ERROR?
One troubling issue has followed the Billy Graham organization, in relation to the crusades, probably since the first crusade was organized. The difficulty is in the co-operation solicited from religious organizations and leaders, who could not sign the doctrinal statement of the Billy Graham organization due to major doctrinal differences. However, these groups and people are used in order to gather support for the organization and promotion of a crusade. In addition, converts from the crusade find their way into churches supported by these organizations or individuals as a result of their co-operation with the Billy Graham organization.

A defense might be that it is necessary to gain the widest possible spectrum of support in order to present the gospel to the greatest number of people. But the question is, what gospel is being presented? When a group or an individual may change or deny the gospel that is being preached, what does that do to the gospel message? The message becomes adulterated and uncertain as the people with a different gospel change the message to fit their teaching.

END OF ARTICLE
by Gary A. Hand
On Doctrine

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